Pick the hypothesis you think has the best supporting evidence. Here are some tips: |
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Criteria for Choosing the Best Explanation |
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A scientific explanation is best if it meets the most criteria: |
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a. |
It matches the data from a fair test. (A fair test is an observation or experiment that challenges the validity of a hypothesis. It can support two or more of the alternative possibilities and does not have the same basis as any of the alternative solutions.) |
b. |
It is confirmed by multiple independent fair tests. |
c. |
Initially conflicting data can be shown to agree. |
d. |
The fair test that supports it is particularly strong. |
e. |
There are no conflicting lines of scientific evidence. |
f. |
The alternatives are seriously defective conceptually. |
g. |
The overall weight of evidence is greatly in its favor. |
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(Adapted with permission from Craig Nelson's page on Fair Tests, Evolution and the Natures of Science Institutes Web site.) |
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Record your hypothesis and the accompanying evidence on the Best Explanation form (pdf). You may want to visit some of the resources listed below to gather more evidence. |
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DinoBuzz |
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UCal Berkeley's site on Current Topics Concerning Dinosaurs will introduce you to the debate over the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs. It discusses the complications that prevent scientists from solving this mystery and provides background on current theories. You might enjoy reading the invalid hypotheses, such as "hay fever killed the dinosaurs." |
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Dinosaur Extinction |
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This very readable site offers background information on dinosaur extinction, the K-T asteroid theory, other K-T extinction theories, and methods used to study extinctions. The section called "studying extinctions," includes a paragraph about radioisotope dating for those interested in one of the current processes used to date fossils. |
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